ISLAMABAD: Experts believe that a particular dietary pattern offers protection against dangerous strokes.
The Mediterranean diet, originating from Spain, Greece, Italy and France, reduces multiple stroke types among women according to a new study published in the medical journal Neurology Open Access.
The Mediterranean diet encourages people to consume fruits and vegetables and whole grains, nuts, fish and olive oil but it restricts red meat consumption. Experts say this balanced combination not only helps prevent the most common type of stroke but also reduces the risk of brain hemorrhage which remains a less-studied but serious form of stroke.
More than 105000 women participated in the study which included subjects aged 53 years who had never experienced a stroke. The researchers gathered data about participants’ daily dietary intake through questionnaires and tracked their health status throughout 21 years. During this time, 4083 women experienced a stroke.
The researchers found that women who regularly followed the Mediterranean diet had a 16 to 25 percent reduced risk for various stroke types after controlling for multiple factors.
The researchers found promising results but they require additional research to determine how this diet protects the brain through biological mechanisms. Such insights could help create more effective dietary guidelines to prevent stroke in the future.
Experts confirmed that people who choose to eat healthy foods will decrease their chance of stroke which stands as a major cause of death and permanent disability throughout the world.
Regular physical activity linked to longer, healthier life: Study
Meanwhile, people who practice different types of physical training methods experience better health outcomes and extended lifespan, according to research findings.
A study published in BMG Medicine showed that people who engaged in multiple exercise activities which included running and cycling and yoga and weight training and gardening and various outdoor activities, experienced lower death rates.
The researchers used data from two long-term studies, which followed more than 111000 participants through the Nurses Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study for more than 30 years.
The study investigated different exercise methods, which included cardio workouts and low-intensity activities and strength training, vigorous exercise and moderate-to-high intensity outdoor work.
The research results revealed that most physical activities reduced the likelihood of death. The study found that swimming did not show any relationship between exercise and decreased death rates to the same extent as other exercises.
People who performed multiple physical activities showed lower mortality rates which reached up to 19 percent. Their risk of dying from heart disease, respiratory illness cancer and other causes was reduced by 13 to 14 percent.
Experts recommend that people need to maintain regular physical activity while their exercise programs should include different activities that benefit their physical and mental health.
